FIU's South Florida BrewFest 2015 Showcases Local Craft Breweries

FIU's South Florida BrewFest, held at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management this past weekend, was a premium showcase for South Florida's craft beer scene. From major players on the local scene, such as Funky Buddha and Wynwood Brewing Company, to homebrewing clubs, BrewFest spotlighted Miami's passion for beer in all forms.

About 30 brewers poured dozens of beers, with most brewed within an hour's drive from the event, making BrewFest South Florida's most local beer happening.

Wynwood Brewing, pouring La Rubia and Pop's Porter, was a crowd favorite. News from the brewery includes ramping up production to meet high demands while getting ready for a surge in visitors to the brewery when Art Basel arrives.

The opening of Biscayne Bay Brewing's taproom is closer than ever. The brewery was pouring a special release, an unnamed porter, which was filled with rich coffee notes and kicked in with 10 percent ABV.

Descarga's Pooty Tang Version 2.0 was a sweet-tart American wheat with tamarind (4.7% ABV). 

MIA Brewing's Regresa a Mi was a delightful guava and hibiscus beer with a gorgeous peach hue.

Legacy Caribbean Craft Brewery poured several brews, including O.L. mango sour, a mulato porter, an Alvita tea-based IPA, and a Karl A. Bazza pumpkin ale. 

The brewery also makes jellies from its beers, so you can spread a little beer on your breakfast toast. The jellies also make great barbecue glazes.

Concrete Beach poured Tropic Passion, Concrete Common, and Stiltsville.

Hialeah Brewing Company's Eric and Ally are getting ready to kick-start a crowdfunding campaign to gain capital for their brewery. Look out for more details in early 2016. In the meantime, the duo is brewing great beers inspired by the culture and flavors of Hialeah, such as the Azucar flan de leche stout and the Miami Bass, a refreshing raspberry mojito ale.

Fresh off the news that the Tank Brewing Company would open in the next few months, brewmaster Matt Weintraub gave beer lovers a taste of what to expect by offering his festive Marzen.

Orlando's Homesick Brewery's Basic Blonde Bitch, made with roasted pumpkin and chai tea, was anything but basic, but the Fluffanuttah porter, with peanut butter, marshmallow, and vanilla notes, made everyone homesick for their favorite after-school snack.

The Miami Area Society of Homebrewers showcased several great beers, including Matt's maple mild, a low-ABV beer traditionally brewed with a low alcohol content in colonial times so that everyone in the family could drink it as a sort of fortified, sanitized, more delicious version of water.

King Fox Brewery is a new addition to Miami's brewing roster. The brewery, currently looking for a home base, poured some great beers, including Dry Hoppa, a dry-hopped Berliner weisse.

The Dude would certainly approve of the Dude Brews' El Russo Caliente, a Russian imperial stout with pepper.